Poles Hit From Downtown, Top Group

Poland nailed 12 of 26 three-pointers (46 percent) in cruising past Germany 82-65 to take first place the Qualifying Round Group E at the U18 European Championship Men.

Jakub Koelner and Michal Michalak both scored 17 points while Tomasz Gielo had 11 points and Mateusz Ponitka added 10 points as the host side improved to 4-1 in the group.

Germany dropped to 1-4 in the group despite 16 points from Besnik Bekteshi, 14 points from Bogdan Radosavljevic, 11 points and six assists by Dennis Schröder and 12 points by Paul Zipser.

Poland pulled ahead 12-4 early on in front of the home crowd. Germany got back within 15-11 but then trailed 21-13 after one quarter.

Poland reeled off four straight baskets - three of them three-pointers in opening a 32-17 advantage.

Germany answered with a 13-3 run to close the margin to 35-30. The Polish lead was 38-30 when Radosavljevic picked up his third foul with 1:48 remaining the second quarter. Germany did not score again in the half with Poland going on a 9-0 run for a 44-30 advantage at the break.

Radosavljevic picked up his fourth foul just 24 seconds into the second half and Polish scored the first nine points of the quarter to finish an 18-0 run for a 53-30 lead. The Poland cushion grew to 23 points in the quarter, which ended with Poland ahead 69-48.

Poland did not let Germany back into the game, never letting the lead drop below 14 points the rest of the way.